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Orthopedics is a medical specialty concerned with the diagnosis, correction, prevention, and treatment of patients with skeletal deformities including disorders of the bones, joints, muscles, ligaments, tendons, nerves, and skin. Surgical, as well as nonsurgical means, are used by orthopedic surgeons for treating musculoskeletal trauma, spine diseases, degenerative diseases, infections, tumors, and congenital disorders.
Basic Orthopedic Symptoms
- Swelling
- Tenderness
- Inability to move the affected part without pain
- Bone sticking out at an abnormal angle
- Numbness
- Inability to lift or rotate the injured part
- Inability to put any weight for leg injuries
- Severe pain when breathing in for broken ribs
- Snapping or cracking noise at the time of the fall/accident
Basic Tests to Diagnose Orthopedic Conditions
X-ray: X-rays are used for detecting fractures and joint dislocations and might be recommended if the doctor suspects damage to a bone or a joint from other conditions such as arthritis or osteonecrosis.
Computed Tomography(CT) Scan: A CT scan of the bones is performed to assess bones, soft tissues, and joints for damage, lesions, fractures, or other abnormalities, particularly when other examinations, such as X-rays or physical examination are not conclusive.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging(MRI) Scan: An MRI is used to evaluate bones, joints, and soft tissues such as cartilage, muscles, and tendons for injuries or certain other conditions, such as tumors, inflammatory disease, congenital abnormalities, osteonecrosis, bone marrow disease, and herniation or degeneration of discs of the spinal cord. Joint deterioration resulting from arthritis can also be monitored using MRI.
Ultrasound-Musculoskeletal: Ultrasound imaging uses sound waves for producing images of muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves, and joints. It helps diagnose sprains, strains, tears, trapped nerves, arthritis, and other musculoskeletal conditions.